2021
- Yes, Colorado’s school board races are becoming more politicized. Here’s why
- A board member in the Garfield RE-2 School District also resigned last week. In her resignation speech, Katie Mackley said she could no longer do the work of cultivating innovation and achievement in the district.
- “Unfortunately, the important and real work of the Garfield RE-2 School Board continues to be upended by community members who choose to place personal politics and social media notoriety above the education of students in this district,” she said. “This is not the community I grew up in.”
- Yes, Colorado’s school board races are becoming more politicized. Here’s why
2023
June 2023
- Rural, conservative school boards echo each other’s opposition to new mental health law
- “Word for word, Garfield Re-2 School Board Director Tony May read the exact same resolution at their meeting on May 10.
- “The Supreme Court has repeatedly held the right of parents to control and direct the education and upbringing of their own child to be a fundamental right protected under the Fourteenth Amendment,” May read in-part.
- May told 9NEWS on the phone today that he didn’t write it, he just read it. He said he didn’t know who wrote the resolution shared from school board to school board opposing the bill that today became law. “
July 2023
- Christian curriculum proposed for Garfield schools
- “A proposal to consider switching Garfield Re-2’s current social studies curriculum to a conservative, Christian-based curriculum was scrutinized via public comment during the district’s June 28 school board meeting.”
- “What’s become a hot topic for some school boards around the nation, the district has been in talks to consider adopting what’s called the American Birthright Standards since the proposal was first made by school board president Tony May in June.”
- FFRF opposes Christian nationalist curriculum in Colo. school district
- “The Freedom From Religion Foundation is strongly urging the Garfield Re-2 School Board in Rifle, Colo., to reject the Christian nationalist “American Birthright” standards currently under consideration that would radically alter its social studies curriculum.”
Oct. 2023
- After weeks of discussion, anticipated social studies decision no longer on agenda for Garfield Re-2 school board | Aspen Public Radio
- “American Birthright has been rejected by the National Council for the Social Studies for its “outdated language” and “clear political agenda,” and rejects “so-called anti-racism” and diversity, equity, and inclusion.”
- Garfield County residents rallied against American Birthright social studies standards in their schools — and won
- “Community members had been expecting the board for Garfield County School District RE-2 to institute the controversial American Birthright social studies standards after this November’s election. However, Board President Tony May pulled the discussion item from the agenda after learning a local committee was going to recommend the board instead adopt the state social studies standards. Pulling the item from the agenda enraged community members who packed the boardroom Wednesday night. “
Garfield Re-2 school district passes on adopting a conservative social studies curriculum.
Nov. 2023
- Garfield Re-2 explores loophole to still implement American Birthright social studies standard
- Lis Richard, a consultant for charter, Christian and private schools, helped implement the curriculum for Woodland Park, which passed the state’s curriculum board for approval. Recent documents obtained by the Post Independent show that Richard had been in communication with Re-2 Board President Tony May well before the board decided to move forward with the Social Studies Adoption Plan and Review Committee.
- Further communications show that May reached out to other selective school districts in Colorado about social studies curriculum adoption. During these communications, Brad Miller, an attorney who has worked closely with Woodland Park’s adoption of ABS, was recommended to help in this process.
Dec. 2023
- Re-2 Board President steps down over ‘political climate’ | Post Independent
- Garfield Re-2 residents form group to spearhead recall petition filed against board member
- “Residents of the Garfield Re-2 School District have formed the Coalition for Responsible Education in Re-2. The group is circulating a petition to recall School Board Member Tony May. May is no stranger to controversy and has been linked to multiple controversies at RE-2.”
- Rural, conservative school boards echo each other’s opposition to new mental health law
2024
Jan. 2024
- Garfield RE-2 parents file required signatures to recall school board member Tony May | Voces Unidas Action Fund
Feb. 2024
- RE-2 DISTRICT E DIRECTOR RECALL PETITION RULED SUFFICIENT
- “A recall petition for Garfield County School District Re-2 Board of Education Director of District E Tony May has been determined sufficient by Garfield County Clerk and Recorder Jackie Harmon. Pursuant to Colorado Revised Statutes (C.R.S.) 1-12-105, Recall and vacancies in office, the number of valid signatures required for the petition is 2,038 and the total number valid signatures submitted is 2,441.”
- America’s Mom’ defends Tony May amid recall effort on Garfield Re-2 School Board
- “Sherronna Bishop, a popular conservative figure with more than 38,000 followers on Facebook and known as “America’s Mom,” took the stage at the One Door Church in Rifle on Friday, addressing a crowd of around 50 people regarding the petition to recall Tony May from his seat on the Garfield Re-2 School Board. As a constitutional conservative and outspoken advocate, Bishop rallied the audience in support of May, emphasizing the importance of his role in the community.“
June 2024
- Secret recording reveals out-of-state interest in Garfield County school board member recall efforts
- The call recording provided to CPR News was organized by a Texas resident who worked for Lauren Boebert’s campaign when she lived in Garfield County, Sherronna Bishop. The recording is filled with anti-LGBTQ rhetoric (Gov. Jared Polis is called an “insane pedophile”), attacks on a local Latino advocacy group and a support group for parents of LGBTQ children — but also strategy for keeping May in his seat.
- It’s an example of how social studies standards and a national movement waging an anti-LGBTQ culture war is fanning the flames of politics in a rural district in Colorado. It raises questions about why outsiders, who have deepened the divide between May’s supporters and opponents, are so interested in a recall election in a tiny school district.
2025
Feb. 2025
- Garfield Re-2 wants to notify parents if a transgender student requests a chosen name change | Aspen Journalism
- Garfield Re-2 School Board continues discussion on name change policy | Post Independent
- Garfield Re-2 School Board added an amendment to the name change policy | Post Independent
March 2025
- Library Report: Board split on recommending Use or Hershey for Glenwood seat, staff compensation called into question | Sopris Sun
- Garfield County commissioners pick former City Council member Tony Hershey to fill library board seat | Aspen Journalism
Nov. 2025
Guest column: Standing up for public school access in our community | Post Independent
2025 School Board Election
Unofficial Garfield Re-2 school board election results show Heil barely leading in District A | Post Independent
Election Results
- District A: Megan Heil won with approximately 52.53% of the vote (2,520 votes) against Darlane Evans, who received about 47.47% (2,277 votes). Heil was appointed to the position in August 2025 following the resignation of the former board president, Britton Fletchall.
- District E: Steven Beaulieu ran unopposed and was elected with 100% of the votes cast (3,275 votes). He will serve a four-year term.
2026
Jan. 2026
- Garfield County Libraries director to retire | Aspen Daily News
- Garfield Re-2 school board reviews budget revisions and capital projects | Post Independent
- Garfield County Libraries has resisted censoring books, but leadership changes could turn the tide | Aspen
- Daily News
- Glenwood charter school seeks legal ruling on ability to bus students from neighboring district | The Sopris Sun
- “A decision whether the charter Two Rivers Community School (TRCS) will be able to continue busing students from the neighboring Garfield Re-2 School District now rests with a judge.“
April 2026
- Garfield Re-2 Superintendent’s column: Understanding school funding, state decisions an what comes next
June 2026
Sept. 2026
- Proposed charter school seeks Garfield Re-2 approval | Post Independent
- The Garfield County School of Innovation plans to submit its charter application to the district by Sept. 30 and is holding six parent information meetings across Garfield County as organizers work to build support for the proposal.
Discover more from Colorado Public Education Watch
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
One thought on “Garfield Re-2 School Board Watch”
Comments are closed.